If Either BYU or Utah Didn't Exist...

[Y84it]

QUOTE=Marvelous;838527]From purely a fan interest point of view, I think they benefit each other. I think if BYU goes away, then interest in Utah goes away as well. I also think that if BYU and Utah were still tied together (i.e. same conference), BYU fans would care more about Utah games and their TV viewership would go up, and vice versa.[/QUOTE]

[Top Ute]

Thats how they justify the double standard. IMO Utah is PAC12's bitch. They have to do what the PAC12 wants. They want UTAH to grow and BYU to go away. That is the only reason I can believe Utah won't play BYU.

I don't believe the Pac-12 gives two shits about BYU.

I do believe Utah is using this silly "no non-conference games after September" as cover to try and get away from BYU.

I look forward to the day in which Utah starts flexing its own muscle, rather than acquiesce to the wishes of Larry Scott and the Rose Bowl.

[byu71]

Anyone wanna bet money on there being 65,000 at LES?

[Paperback Writer]

Thats how they justify the double standard. IMO Utah is PAC12's bitch. They have to do what the PAC12 wants. They want UTAH to grow and BYU to go away. That is the only reason I can believe Utah won't play BYU.

There's also Colorado to consider. The Buffs need a rival. Anyone familar with Buff fans' boorish behavior would not want to be considered Colorado's rival. With Utah not having much leverage in the PAC-12; they got nominated. Another reason for the PAC-12 to nudge BYU to the sidelines. If Utah fans embrace Colorado as a rival, it will be like divorcing one's first wife for apparent, tiresome flaws only to marry someone much worse with very different, repugnant flaws.

I'm not sure of the depth of Utah's football tradition in comparision to Nebraska which dates it football tradition to being the only team to beat the four horseman of Notre Dame twice. If BYU did not exist, would Utah be closer to Nerbaska or more on par with Colorado and above Wyoming? Interesting question. What would have happened if Bob Devaney left Wyoming for Utah instead of Nebraska? Picture Urban Meyer staying a decade at Utah and then turning the reins over to Urban Meyer Jr. for the next 25 years.

[Commando]

If Utah fans embrace Colorado as a rival, it will be like divorcing one's first wife for apparent, tiresome flaws only to marry someone much worse with very different, repugnant flaws.

off topic. I just heard the voice of Samuel L. Jackson in your post.

[Eddie]

I used to catch some of the Utah games when BYU was in the same conference because I was interested in the conference championship race.

Now I don't. Like other CFB games, if I'm flipping channels and their game is interesting, I might linger. Mostly I just hear the scores later.

I'm sure Utah picked up some fans upon joining the PACXII. I'm sure there are some Y fans who are watching them because they want to see how Utah does in the new conference. I'm also sure there are others like me who no longer watch their games.

I'm guessing the PACXII resulted in a net gain of viewers and fans overall. I'm not all that curious as to how many.

And as hard as the PACXII was pushing to make Colorado the U's new rival, nothing could've moved that train as much as Colorado winning in RES did. If Colorado keeps it up, the PACXII will have their wish. I'm guessing many at Colorado are fine with giving up CSU as a "rival".

[New Mexican Disaster]

Anyone wanna bet money on there being 65,000 at LES?

I feel responsible for that poor horse.

[DU Ute]

Nebraska's a smaller state than Utah. I've wondered too what the program would be like it the state had just one powerful program.

You could get your wish in a couple of years.

[byu71]

I feel responsible for that poor horse.

LOL

[byu71]

I used to catch some of the Utah games when BYU was in the same conference because I was interested in the conference championship race.

Now I don't. Like other CFB games, if I'm flipping channels and their game is interesting, I might linger. Mostly I just hear the scores later.

I'm sure Utah picked up some fans upon joining the PACXII. I'm sure there are some Y fans who are watching them because they want to see how Utah does in the new conference. I'm also sure there are others like me who no longer watch their games.

I'm guessing the PACXII resulted in a net gain of viewers and fans overall. I'm not all that curious as to how many.

And as hard as the PACXII was pushing to make Colorado the U's new rival, nothing could've moved that train as much as Colorado winning in RES did. If Colorado keeps it up, the PACXII will have their wish. I'm guessing many at Colorado are fine with giving up CSU as a "rival".

Not so much Utah, but who they are playing I think has created the interest. Not sure who they have at home besides USC, but there are for sure going to be some BCS schools.

I agree with those who say if they are also rans year after year, the newness will wear off. As for now though it is a big plus for them, IMHO.

Heck, my kids who hate Utah have asked if I can get them tickets to some of the Ute games.

[Eddie]

Not so much Utah, but who they are playing I think has created the interest. Not sure who they have at home besides USC, but there are for sure going to be some BCS schools.

I agree with those who say if they are also rans year after year, the newness will wear off. As for now though it is a big plus for them, IMHO.

Heck, my kids who hate Utah have asked if I can get them tickets to some of the Ute games.

Oh - I agree for sure. When the locals are playing against a name school, there is more interest.

I watched the second half of USU-Auburn last year, just because it was a close game and a local school against a name school. Like you, I'm sure that drives the interest. And like you, I'm sure if Utah fails to be competitive the newness will wear off.

[NorthwestUteFan]

It would be like things were from the early 70s to the mid 90s.

And also from the late 90s (1890s) to the early 70s (1970s)


Perhaps if there was only one program in the state we would have an NFL team? Wishful thinking.

[The_Douger]

I wish we had the NFL here.

[Marvelous]

I'm guessing many at Colorado are fine with giving up CSU as a "rival".

Colorado had considered Nebraska their "rival" for years. I think some still do. Rumor has it that Colorado and Nebraska will play annually as part of the new PAC 12 - BI6 teal. If that is true, I have a hard time thinking Colorado will consider anyone other than Nebraska their "rival."

Nebraska on the other hand doesn't consider Colorado their "rival". Never has. Die hard traditionalists like myself still want it to be Oklahoma, but unfortunately that ship sailed in 1996. Thanks, Texas!

[Paperback Writer]

Colorado had considered Nebraska their "rival" for years. I think some still do. Rumor has it that Colorado and Nebraska will play annually as part of the new PAC 12 - BI6 teal. If that is true, I have a hard time thinking Colorado will consider anyone other than Nebraska their "rival."

Nebraska on the other hand doesn't consider Colorado their "rival". Never has. Die hard traditionalists like myself still want it to be Oklahoma, but unfortunately that ship sailed in 1996. Thanks, Texas!

I doubt that Colorado-Nebraska becomes an annual game. Nebraska will want to play the PAC-12 California schools, ASU, and Washington for recruiting purposes. And I could see Colorado wanting to schedule teams like Michigan and Northwestern for the same reason. Why would Colorado want to keep Nebraska on the schedule? To try to keep a rivalry that never was? I could see Colorado embracing a rivalry with Utah although I think they would prefer UCLA.